Thinning and weeding machine



, N 1938 A. M. FETTERS THINNING AND WEEDI NG MACHINE Filed March 8, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEYS;

Nov. 1, 1933- A. M. FETTERS THINNING AND WEEDING MACHINE Filed March a 1938 4 sheets-sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

m 1, 1938- A. M. FETTERS THINNING AND WEEDING MACHINE A W xwrvfi fi jikw m M N% m W a W. m A J F Filed March 8, 1938 w hs A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 1, 1938 2,134,816

UNITED ST fires PATENT OFFICE Andy M. Fetters, Payette, Idaho Application March 8, 1938,.Serial No. 194,681

10 Claims. (01. 9712) This invention relates to agricultural machines, reference character 5, and includes side rails 6 and more particularly to machines designed for that support bearings l, at the rear ends thereof, thinning rows of growing plants. the bearings l accommodating the axles 8 on An object of the invention, is to provide a which the supporting wheels 9 are loosely thinning machine of this character which may mounted. be moved along rows of plants, the construction Arranged in parallel spaced relation with the of the machine being such as to remove growing side rails 6, are the rails [0, which also form a plants or weeds from the rows, leaving growing part of the frame, the rails Ill providing supports plants spaced predetermined distances apart. for hearings in which the inner ends of the 10 Another object of the invention is to provide axles 8 are mounted. 16 means whereby the rotating wheel which car- Splined on the axles 8, are clutch members ries the thinning teeth, may be held stationary II that are adapted to move into engagement while the teeth are rotated, to the end that the with the supporting wheels 9, clutching the wheels device may be used in removing all of the plants 9 to the axles 8, at the will of the operator. Conof a row. nected with each of the clutch members II, is N A still further object of the invention is to a lever l2 pivotally mounted on the frame of the provide a rotary thinning Wheel and means for machine, the levers l2 having right angled end mounting the thinning wheel so that the wheel portions it that carry pins which move in the may be adjusted vertically with respect to the grooves Hi of the clutch members II. The free ground surface, thereby regulating the depth of ends of the levers l2 are connected by the bar 20 operation of the teeth of the thinning Wheel. 15, the connection between the levers l2 and bar With the foregoing and other objects in View, 5 being such thatwhen the bar I5 is moved which will appear as the description proceeds, transversely of the frame, one of the clutch memthe invention resides in the combination and hers will be moved to clutch one of the supportarrangement of parts and in the details of coning wheels to its axle, while the opposite clutch 25 struction hereinafter described and claimed, it member will be moved to a position disengaging being understood that changes in the precise emthe supporting wheel associated therewith. bodiment of the invention herein described, may Connected to the bar I5 at a point substanbe made within the scope of what is claimed, tial y intermediate i135 ends, iS a link 6 t without departing from the spirit of the invenhas pivotal connection with one end of the bell- 30 tion. crank lever I! which is pivotally mounted on the Referring to the drawings: frame of the machine, the opposite end of the Figure 1 is a plan view of a thinning machine bell-crank lever ll being connected with the rod constructed in accordance with the invention 8 which exte ds o t e lever 19 Where it is conshowing the thinning heel in section with all nected therewith. Thus it will be seen that due 35 but two thinning members omitted. to this construction, the bar l5 and levers l2 Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view y e operated y moving the level through the machine, the entire thinning wheel As clearly S ow by Figure 1 0f the drawings, having been omitted for the sake of clearness. the axles 8 extend through bea penings in Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the arms Eli which are horizontally disposed and the construction of the thinning wheel and thinextend forward y Within the e, the arms 20 ning teeth carried thereby. providing supports for the shaft 2|. Mounted Figure 4 is a fragmental sectional view through on th inn r nd of th axle 8 at one side of the the rear axle housings of the machine, and machine, is a sprocket 22 over which the chain 4:; illustrating the clutch members employed for 3 Ope the Chain 23 also Operating Over t e 4 clutching the wheels of the machine to the axles. sprocket 24 secured at one end of the sleeve 25 Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmental view illusthat carries the beveled pinion 26 on its inner trating the detail construction of the thinning end. Thus it will be seen that due to this conteeth and means for operating the thinning struction, rotary movement is transmitted to teeth. the sleeve 25 and beveled gear 26, through the 50 Figure 6 is a fragmental sectional view illusmedium of the axle 8, sprockets 22 and 24 and trating the means for rotating the thinning chain 23. t eth, ihe wheel which supports the thinning teeth Referring to the drawings in detail, the frame of the machine, is indicated by the reference of the machine is indicated generally by the character 21 and ismounted on the shaft 2].

opposite side of the machine, is a sprocket 28 over which the chain 29 operates, the chain 29 also operating over the sprocket 30 formed on one end of the hub 3|, forming a part of the wheel 21. When the supporting wheel 9 at this side of the machine, is placed in motion, it will be seen that rotary movement will be transmitted to the wheel 21, through the chain 29. The wheel 21 embodies spaced ring members 32 and 33, held in spaced relation with the hub 3|, by means of the spokes 34 which are shown as secured to the hub 3|, and extended through openings in the ring member 32, the outer ends of the spokes 34 being extended laterally providing supporting arms 35 for the rotary thinning members 36. These rotary thinning members 36 include shafts 31 that have their ends disposed in bearings 38, the adjacent ends of the shafts 31 being connected by the universal joints 39, so that all of the thinning members are rotated at the same time. On one end of one of the shafts 31 is a pinion 40 that meshes with the pinion 4| carried at one end of the shaft 42 that operates in bearings formed on the gear support 43, which is secured to the ring member 33, by means of the bolt 44. It will of course be understood that this gear support 43 is formed at the outer end of one of the spokes of the wheel 21. On the inner end of the shaft 42, is a pinion 45 that meshes with the pinion 46 carried at one end of the shaft 41, the shaft 41 being of a length to extend through the hub 3|, where it is supplied with a pinion 48 meshing with the beveled gear 26. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, rotary movement is transmitted to the rotary thinning members, through the chain 23, beveled gear 26 and shaft 41. It might be further stated that these thinning members include radiating teeth arranged in groups around the periphery of the wheel 21, the groups of teeth being spaced apart providing clearances around the periphery of the wheel, to the end that when the machine is moved along a row of plants, the spaces between adjacent groups of teeth will fall over certain plants of the row with the result that these plants will remain standing and will not be removed by the rotary wheel 21.

Connected with the arm 20' at one side of the frame of the machine, is a pivoted link 49 to which the arm 50 of the lever 5| is connected, so that by moving the lever 5|, the shaft 2|, together with the wheel 21 mounted thereon, may be moved vertically with respect to the ground surface, thereby regulating the depth of operation of the teeth of the rotary thinning members 36.

The forward end of the machine is supported by the wheels 52 that are mounted on the axle 53 which is mounted on the frame 54. This frame 54 is pivotally mounted at the forward end of the machine and is provided with an arm 55 extending therefrom. Connected with the arm 55 is a link 56 that extends laterally of the frame of the machine and has connection with the arm 51 carrying the cross arm 58 at its inner end. Rods 59 are connected with the cross arm 58, and have connection with the treadles 60 disposed adjacent to the operators seat, whereby the operator may by forcing the pedals 60 downwardly, move the frame 54 and wheels 52, to guide the machine.

In the operation of the machine, the machine is positioned to straddle a row of growing plants to be thinned. The lever I9 is now operated to Secured to the inner end of the axle 8 at themove the clutch members to positions as shown by Figure 1 of the drawings, whereupon rotary movement is transmitted from the wheel 9 at one side of the machine, to the axle 8 carrying the sprocket 28. Sprocket 28 is now rotated which in turn transmits movement to the wheel 21, through the chain 29, sprocket 30 and hub 3|. As the wheel 21 rotates, the rotary movement of the wheel 21 around the beveled gear 26, causes rotary movement to be imparted to the several rotary thinning members, through the pinion 48 and shaft 41. As these rotary thinning members contact with the growing plant, it is obvious that the teeth thereof will dig certain of the plants from the ground surface, leaving growing plants spaced predetermined distances apart.

Should it be desired to remove all of the plants of a row, the lever I9 is moved in the opposite direction, whereupon the clutch member at the opposite side of the machine is moved into engagement with the wheel associated therewith, simultaneously disengaging the clutch member at the opposite side of the machine, and releasing the sprocket 28. When the clutch members are in this position, it is obvious that the wheel 21 will be held against rotary movement, and that rotary movement will be imparted to the ro tary thinning members, through the sprocket 22, chain 23, sprocket 24, beveled gear 26, shaft 41,

pinions 45 and 46, shafts 42, and pinions 40 and 4|.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, a wheelsupported frame, a thinning wheel mounted within the frame, a plurality of rotary thinning members mounted on the wheel, means for operating the thinning wheel and thinning members simultaneously, and means for holding the thinning wheel against rotary movement and rotating the thinning members.

2. In a machine of the class described, a wheelsupported frame, a rotary thinning wheel mounted on the frame, a plurality of rotary thinning members mounted adjacent to the periphery of the wheel and rotating in planes at right angles to the plane of the wheel, means for rotating the thinning wheel and thinning members simultaneously, and means whereby the thinning wheel may be held against rotation and said thinning members rotated.

3. In a machine of the class described, a wheelsupported frame, a thinning wheel mounted for rotary movement on the frame and in the direction of travel of the frame, a plurality of rotary thinning members mounted on the thinning wheel adjacent to the periphery thereof, said thinning members being spaced apart, the spaces between the thinning members accommodating plants of the row through which the machine moves, whereby certain plants are left standing in the row, means for rotating the thinning wheel and thinning members, and said thinning members adapted to rotate in a plane at right angles to the direction of rotation of the thinning wheel.

4. In a machine of the class described, a wheelsupported frame, a thinning wheel mounted for rotary movement on the frame, a plurality of rotary thinning members mounted on the wheel, the adjacent ends of said thinning members being spaced apart providing spaces whereby the thinning members pass over plants in a row of plants being thinned, leaving certain growing plants in the row, teeth forming a part of each thinning member, said teeth extending beyond the periphery of the thinning wheel to contact with plants in the row, and means for rotating the thinning wheel and thinning members.

5. In a machine of the class described, a wheelsupported frame, a rotary thinning wheel mounted within the frame, rotary thinning members carried by the wheel, teeth formed on the rotary thinning members and operating adjacent to the periphery of the thinning wheel whereby the teeth will contact with growing plants in the row of plants being thinned, means for rotating the thinning wheel and the thinning members, and means for adjusting the thinning wheel vertically, regulating the depth of operation of the teeth of the thinning members.

6. In a machine of the class described, a wheelsupported frame, a rotary thinning Wheel mounted within the frame, rotary thinning members mounted adjacent to the periphery of the thinning wheel and spaced apart, means for rotating the thinning wheel and thinning members, whereby the thinning members contact with growing plants, thinning the row of plants through which the thinning members move, the spaces between adjacent thinning members accommodating certain plants of the row, leaving the plants standing in the row, and means for adjusting the thinning wheel vertically.

7. In a machine of the class described, a wheelsupported frame, a thinning wheel mounted for rotary movement on the frame, rotary thinning members supported by the thinning wheel, teeth on the rotary thinning members and extending beyond the periphery of the wheel to contact with growing plants of a row of plants being thinned, said thinning members being spaced apart providing spaces to pass over growing plants leaving certain growing plants in the row, and means for rotating the thinning members independently of the thinning wheel.

8. In a machine of the class described, a wheelsupported frame, a thinning wheel, a horizontal shaft on the frame and on which the thinning wheel operates, rotary thinning members mounted on the wheel adjacent to the periphery thereof, and means for adjusting the shaft vertica11y, regulating the depth of operation of the thinning members.

9. In a machine of the class described, a wheelsupported frame, a horizontal shaft mounted on the frame, a thinning wheel mounted for rotary movement on the shaft, thinning members mounted for rotary movement on the thinning wheel, means for operating the thinning members, said operating means comprising shafts having pinions, mounted on the thinning wheel, a gear loose- 1y mounted on the horizontal shaft and meshing with one of said pinions for rotating the thinning members simultaneously with the rotation of the thinning wheel, and said thinning member operating means adapted to rotate the thinning members when the thinning wheel is held against rotation, whereby all of the plants of a row are removed.

10. In a machine of the class described, a wheelsupported frame, a thinning wheel mounted for rotary movement on the frame, thinning members supported on the thinning wheel and mounted adjacent to the periphery thereof, said thinning members being spaced apart, the spaces between thinning members adapted to accommodate plants when the machine is moved through a row of growing plants, shafts on which the thinning members are mounted, universal connections between the shafts of the thinning members, whereby the thinning members are rotated simultaneously, means for rotating the thinning wheel, and means for adjusting the thinning wheel vertically, whereby the depth of operation of the thinning members is regulated.

ANDY M. FE'I'I'ERS. 

